San Juan Capistrano takes over water-plant operations from business

Looking down on one corner of the new Groundwater treatment plant behind San Juan Capistrano City Hall. At left are two of the long filtering tanks, on the right is the building housing the chemical tanks. SAM GANGWER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. POSTED BY PETER SCHELDEN.

The City of San Juan announced Monday it has taken over day-to-day operations and maintenance of its Groundwater Recovery Plant from SouthWest Water Company. SWWC had operated the plant under contract with the city since the plant was built in 2004. The city took over operations at the start of November.

There was no exchange of money, and both the city and the company agreed to end the contract, Assistant City Manager Cindy Russell said.

SWWC Vice President of Communications Delise Keim described the decision this way:

"Business is about relationships," Keim said. "You always want to have a good relationship with clients. The client wants to take the operation internal. And that's their choice. They own the asset. We've always had a good relationship with the city."

Taking over plant operations became possible when the city hired Utilities Director John O'Donnell in July, Russell said, adding that O'Donnell has experience with plant operations. That along with a restructure of the city's utilities department made the change possible.

Russell said city officials were "disappointed" when the plant began producing colored water. Though SouthWest corrected that problem, other issues remain with MTBE, a carcinogenic chemical found in trace amounts following a Chevron gasoline spill. Chevron has worked with the city to clean the water of MTBE.

"The plant has had its bumps and bruises along the way, but now it's running great," Russell said. "The colored water problem is gone. Now we're working on the MTBE problem."

Right now the plant runs at a little over half-capacity. The city plans to bring it to full capacity "over the next few months," according to a release. That release said additional water treatment at the Dance Hall well where MTBE is found must be installed before the plant can run at full capacity.

Water has become an increasingly serious issue as the state continues its ninth drought year. The city passed a robust water control ordinance earlier this year to deter water waste.

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